Finding ways to be more energy efficient is more important than ever before. With climate change continuing to worsen year by year, people need to pay attention to the greenhouse gases they are adding to the atmosphere. There are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint, and switching to energy-efficient appliances is but one of many ways that you make your home more environmentally friendly.
Shopping for energy-efficient appliances can be difficult, the same as shopping for appliances in general. You need to know the proper size for your home and your needs, the cost to operate them each year, and more.
Here is what you need to know about what sets energy-efficient appliances apart from the rest, as well as some helpful shopping tips you can utilize while you’re on the hunt for the ideal energy-efficient appliances for your home. Let’s jump into it!
What Makes Energy-Efficient Appliances Different?
Your appliances account for a significant portion of your home energy consumption. Indeed, even stand-by appliances that are not currently in use can use as much as 5-10% of your energy. The older your appliances are, the more energy they need in order to function properly. As with anything else, older models and appliances that you’ve had for years simply aren’t as efficient as they could be.
This affects how smoothly your household runs, how much energy you use, and how much money you’re spending each month on your energy bills. Energy-efficient appliances can help you enjoy an easier lifestyle where you spend less time and money on your appliances.
This is because the more energy efficient an appliance, the less energy it takes to run. You can see this in clothes washers in how they use less water to wash your clothes. Since they take less to run, they don’t cost you as much money as their non-energy-efficient counterparts. They reduce the amount of greenhouse gases your house emits. Plus, they need less maintenance, which also makes your life easier.
As you can see, making the switch to energy-efficient appliances can improve your quality of life and save you money, all well helping the environment. Talk about a win-win!
How To Shop For Energy-Efficient Appliances
You’ll find that shopping for appliances that are energy-efficient isn’t too much different from shopping for appliances in general. However, there are some particulars you’ll want to consider. Here are some of our tips for shopping for these types of appliances.
#1. Choose The Right Size
The same as with any other appliance, you want to ensure that the ones you purchase are the right size for your needs. If your appliances aren’t big enough, this means that they’ll have to run longer and more often in order to fulfill their function. If they’re too big, this means that it can end up wasting energy.
#2. Consider Costs
You don’t want to go for the cheap option just because it’s cheap. Remember that appliances are meant to last you for years and years on end. You want to ensure that you make a good investment.
Perhaps you’ve heard the saying that you should consider the initial cost of the appliance as a downpayment and the operating costs as your long-term expenses? This is what you want to take into account when shopping. Sometimes, the more expensive option upfront will be more cost-effective in the long run.
#3. Look For The EnergyStar Label
EnergyStar is a government-backed symbol that indicates an appliance is energy-efficient. You’ll also see EnergyStar labels on other items, such as windows. This lets you know that the appliance you’re considering will have a lesser impact on the environment than something else.
#4. Check The EnergyGuide
This includes important information such as an estimated yearly operating cost; the size, make, and model of the appliance; and an estimate of how much energy the appliance will take to run. This gives you an idea of how energy-efficient the appliance actually is.
#5. See If There Are Tax Credits
If you make energy-efficient choices, this is often rewarded in the form of tax credits and rebates. You can look on the EnergyStar website for more information about rebates and federal tax credits.
Let Us Help You Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient
Regardless of the type of appliances you have, you need to ensure that they’re properly maintained in order to ensure that they’re as efficient as possible. VanderDoes Home Services is here to help! Contact us today to learn more about our appliance repair services.
